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Marketing, research, education and health were also among the UK's most sickliest professions.

Teachers take 3.17 days per year while those working in the manufacturing industry or industrial labour take the fewest days off sick a year with just 1.59.

Those working in leisure and culture industries also make the most trips to the doctor, with an average at 3.11 trips per year, while those in manufacturing or labour roles avoid the doctors the most with 1.46 visits.

The research by family insurance firm There also found that 44 per cent of Britons dread calling in sick, with flu, stomach bugs and viruses being the main causes of missing work.

More than a quarter admitted they put on a 'sick voice' when ringing their boss to get a day off work.

Most workers said they were apprehensive to take a sick day because they were worried about work piling up, putting pressure on co-workers and felt guilty.

Those who are self-employed were concerned about loss of income and customers.

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44 per cent of Britons dread calling in sick

We worry and feel pressured when faced with taking time off work sick

Philippa McLaglen

Nearly half of Britons admitted they are too afraid or unable to take a sick day due to work pressures.

Health workers rated their boss the most strict when it came to taking sick days and also said they worked too hard with too few staff.

Nearly half of the health workers interviewed felt this pressure led to them being susceptible to illness.

A fifth of workers have been injured or made ill as a direct result of doing their job, the results showed.

More than 2,000 workers who took part in the study had experienced a serious injury or illness that prevented them working for a month or more.

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More than a quarter admitted they put on a 'sick voice' when ringing their boss